Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay

14 quotes

Biography

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is an American actress, philanthropist, producer, and director. Hargitay is known for playing Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, the longest-running character of all time in an American primetime drama.

"When I walk down the street and people say, 'I knew what to do because of watching your show (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). I knew not to shower. I reported immediately. I took myself to the hospital instead of saying forget it, forget this ever happened, That's what I'm most proud of."

Mariska Hargitay

"When I was in my early 20s, I had my hair permed. Bad idea! It turned into total frizz. My advice to women is, if you have nice hair already, don't get a perm, leave your hair alone!"

Mariska Hargitay

"Everything has combined to make my life in New York an amazing experience. I told my manager a few years ago that I wanted to move here and try acting in the theater."

Mariska Hargitay

"You've got to kick fear to the side, because the payoff is huge."

Mariska Hargitay

"I am grateful that I didn't let fear get the best of me. It only holds you back from possibilities and greatness."

Mariska Hargitay

"You know how you wake up in the morning and sometimes you look gorgeous and other times you look like you got hit by a mack truck? I realized that my mack truck is food. If I have no sugar, yeast or wine, I have no undereye bags and my skin is perfect."

Mariska Hargitay

"Chocolate is the first luxury. It has so many things wrapped up in it: Deliciusness in the moment, childhood memories, and that grin-inducing feeling of getting a reward for being good."

Mariska Hargitay

"Yes. I did more research than I ever wanted to and saw some things I wish I didn't. I went on ride-alongs, spent time with Homicide, Cold Case, and SVU detectives, hung out in subways learning how to spot pervs and pick-pockets, viewed an autopsy, went to a police firing range, and witnessed court cases and I read, read, read."

Mariska Hargitay

"I think because I became a mom later in life, everything in life means more."

Mariska Hargitay

"I want to be a fun mom. Not a gasping for air mom."

Mariska Hargitay

"You know how you wake up in the morning and sometimes you look gorgeous and other times you look like you got hit by a mack truck? I realized that my mack truck is food. If I have no sugar, yeast or wine, I have no undereye bags and my skin is perfect."

Mariska Hargitay

"It's a life's journey of finding ourselves, finding our power, and living for yourself, not for everyone else."

Mariska Hargitay

"Over half a million women are raped in this country every year, and only a fraction of them report it because they're too ashamed. It’s a really screwed up world, but its not your fault, and what happened to you, it doesn't make you the monster."

Mariska Hargitay

"The experience of being cared for is profound, and it nourishes the soul as much as the food does the body."

Mariska Hargitay